A variety of agate or chalcedony mineral that contains iron oxide, giving it a reddish or blood-like color.
From Greek haima 'blood' combined with agate, a type of cryptocrystalline quartz. The hemachate name reflects the mineral's blood-red appearance, which ancient gemologists found medically significant.
Hemachate was called 'bloodstone' by medieval physicians who believed holding it could stop internal bleeding—we now know it doesn't work, but the name stuck for 500+ years!
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